Arsenal: Furious Mikel Arteta hits out at 'unacceptable' penalty decision in Champions League semi-final | OneFootball

Danny Makkelie watched the incident 13 times being overturning the penalty decision

Viktor Gyokeres and Julian Alvarez both converted penalties, before Arsenal then thought they had another chance to take the lead from the spot.

Eberechi Eze was brought down in the box by David Hancko and the referee awarded a penalty, only for that to be overturned by a lengthy VAR review.

"After going back in the dressing room and speaking to the boys, and understanding and watching the penalty incident for the second goal get overturned, extremely disappointed and annoyed," Arteta said.

There was contact from Hancko on the foot of Eze after the Arsenal midfielder had poked the ball away.

Danny Makkelie had been confident in pointing to the spot but he was advised to consult the pitchside monitor and that inevitably led to his initial decision being reversed.

"The whole sequence," Arteta continued.

"There's a clear contact, you make that decision, you cannot overturn that decision when you have to look at it 13 times.

"At this level it's completely unacceptable."

Makkelie had Diego Simeone closing in on him as he watched the replays, with the Atletico manager incredibly animated in demanding that the penalty was not given.

His coaching staff also piled the pressure on the officials, as did the fans in the stands.

Asked if he felt the referee had been influenced by his surroundings, Arteta replied: "I don't know.

"That's an answer for him. Obviously it's wrong decision and it changes the course of the tie."

Danny Makkelie initially awarded Arsenal a second penalty on the night

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There was also controversy over the awarding of Atletico's penalty, which Alvarez converted past a stationary David Raya.

A shot bounced off Ben White's shin and onto his arm. Makkelie did not initially give that as a penalty but did so after a VAR review.

UEFA are much more stringent with handball rules, as Bayern Munich found on Tuesday night in the other semi-final when Alphonso Davies was incredibly unfortunate to concede a penalty.

Arteta had no complaints over Arsenal conceding that penalty as UEFA have been consistently harsh on handballs, but he remained furious over the Eze incident.

"It is the rule and they have been quite consistent with that," Arteta said of White being penalised.

"On that one, if you're going to give a penalty for this kind of thing you have to accept that. I have nothing to say with that.

"But the one that changes completely everything, it's a penalty on Ebs. That cannot happen at this level."